This Thursday evening, April 30th the library will have a tea party from 7 – 8 pm. Don’t worry – decaffeinated options will be available, and this is open to all ages. We’ll learn about the history of tea, and some tea etiquette as well as types of tea available. Call the library to sign up.

This week’s review is from the rotating book van, so if it sounds interesting be sure to come into the library before the second week in June to check it out! The library has it’s own extensive collection of cookbooks on nearly every ingredient and dish. However, the cookbook we just got from the rotating van is certainly unique! Beyond Delicious: The Ghost Whisperer’s Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes from the Dearly Departed by Mary Ann Winkowski and David Powers contains both recipes reportedly direct from the dearly departed, as well as short vignettes of how the authors received these recipes from beyond the earthly kitchen. This cookbook is a companion to the book series penned by the same authors covering haunted locations across the US that offer public tours. The recipes are mostly down home, comfort style dishes, but the book is formatted to be read more as fiction than cooking guide. If you like reading about ghostly encounters, page on through (and maybe skip the recipes). If you are more interested in the recipes here and now, broad categories can help you skim the selection a bit faster too.You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

James Patterson is back with yet another thrilling read, which should come as no surprise to regular browsers of library and bookstore shelves. This week’s review is of Private Vegas by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Private Vegas is the ninth in the Private series; the library has the rest of the series on the shelf if they’re not currently checked out. His stories are usually fast paced and his co-authors lend their own flavor if you find a certain series by him isn’t your taste.Private Vegas features former Marine and CIA operative turned private investigator Jack Morgan at the head of his own powerful and much sought after detective agency that caters mostly to the rich and powerful. It operates out of Los Angeles, but just over the state border in Las Vegas things are heating up. In the city of sin, Lester Olsen sits as a sort of mob boss and murder instructor, luring promising young women into his one of a kind school to become murderers. Jack Morgan stumbles upon the scheme while he’s following up on two murders and travels to Las Vegas to solve his most seductive case yet.

Reviews say for this thriller that it is a quick, light read, so if you’re not too sure about committing to anything heavy or time consuming be sure to pick this one up. Also, there is a pretty strong lead in to the next in the series at the back of this book, so this is not recommended as a stand-alone read. You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

Hi! This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. Miranda James is an author still somewhat new to the Port Library’s shelves. James began writing a cozy mystery series with a library flair called Cat in the Stacks in 2010 with the title Murder Past Due. The series centers on a college librarian archivist named Charlie Harris and his oversize Maine Coon cat, Diesel in small town Athena, Mississippi. Cozy mysteries have the usual murder and mystery, but instead of focusing on grisly details, thrilling chases, and violence the stories contain more daily life of the main character detective and usually take place in quiet, unassuming locations.The latest volume in the series, called Arsenic and Old Books, has Charlie in the middle of a political race, college tenure possibilities, and preservation of a set of Civil War era diaries. Charlie is tasked with the preservation of the Civil War diaries of a prominent family of the town. However, the diaries are stolen from Charlie’s office the day after he receives them! When a college professor is murdered for her connection to these diaries, Charlie may have little time left before he becomes the next target. At the back of the book is an additional short story relating how Charlie met his enormous pet cat, Diesel. Although number six in the series, this one can easily be read on its own. A few characters may seem out of place, and if you want to start from the beginning you can find the others in the series at the Port Library.You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

Hi! This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. Our rotating book van visits next week, so if you’re looking for a different selection to browse, stop by later in the week to see what’s new!The job title of caregiver describes a vital role usually taken on by adult children when caring for their elderly parents. It is not easy to be a caregiver, and even less certain when a child or concerned friend should step in to help an older person.

The Caregiver's Companion: Caring for Your Loved One Medically, Financially and Emotionally While Caring for Yourself by Carolyn A. Brent is a compact, succinct guide to anyone functioning as a caregiver. Ms. Brent starts at the very beginning, helping readers identify if they are actually acting as a caregiver without even knowing it. She includes stories from her own experiences, as well as practical checklists and questionnaires throughout the book. Topics covered include: signs that your loved one needs more assistance, what to look for in a retirement home, care-taking in your own home, how to ensure wills are in order, how to manage difficult family relationships, and ensuring you are getting the help and care you need.

The library has many other guide related to specific end-of-life illnesses and this guide doesn't specifically touch on the spiritual aspects that accompany this life transition. Still, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed and need a friendly, short introduction into the role of care-giving, this book can be tackled in one weekend. You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”